Coin receptacle and unlocking device therefor



J. E. MITCHELL COIfi'RECE-PTACLE AND UNLOCKING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed July 15 1922 Patented Feb. M), M225.

Unit-so :i'

JGHN EDVV'ARD MITCHELL, orrsnnwoon, OHIO, es'stolvon, srmnsivnessron v nnrrs,

'ro- ALVIN R. Men-rims, or onevnnenn, OHIO.

com n-Eonr'rAoL Ann UNLOGKING nnv on rnnnnro n,

Application filed ui is, 1922. Serial No. 575,285.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LJOHN EDWARD MITCH- ELL, a citizenotthe United States, residing at Lakewood. in the county of {Guyahoga and State of ()hio, have invented a certain new and usetul Improvement in (join Receptacles and Unlocking Devices Therctor, of whichthe tollowingis a full, clea3t-, -and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. 1

This invention relates generally to that class of receptacles commonly referred to as home savings banks or pocket coinv receptacles and it hasto do more particularly with a locking closure therefor andwith an unlock 1g device-tor the closure.

In receptacles of the foregoing, class which are usedhydepositors of banlr ng institutions t r accumulating small change therein, to be deposited in the bank from time to time and which upon being. presented to the teller ot' the bank have tobe opened and closedwith considerable dispatch, the facility and speed with which theclosure may be removed and replacedis of great importance, It is to this variety of receptacles that my invention particularly ,relates, andto the attainment. of the foregoing ends that it was conceived.

My aims; are to provide closure i-hatmay be very readily applied to .a receptacle wherewith it is designedwforuse and which incorporates simple yet highly etficient locking means-for securing the closure to the receptacle; and to provide an. inexpensive and simply constructed unlocking device that is particularly convenient of manipulation that may be used for removing the closure from the receptacle.v

Other and more specific objects will become apparent as I proceed. to describe the present preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views-and wherein Fig.1 is a perspective view of a coin'bank or receptacle having the cover applied thereto; 52 is a s imilar view of the unlock,- ing device; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the receptaclewith the unlocking device applied to the cover thereof; Fig. 4 is sectional edge elevation of what is shown in Fig. 3, the plane of section through t-he unlocking device being designated by the line es of Fig. 3, whilethe receptacle and its closure are shown in elevationiil ig 5 is a fragmentary side'elevationot the is ceptacle with theclosure;re1noved; Fig.6 is a view of the unlocking device as though looking into the jaws thereof; Fig.7 is an enlarged sectionaldetail through the receptacle,'it-s' closure, and the adjacent parts of the unlocking device, this section also being on the line tof Fig- 3; and 8 is a perspective view cf thejclosu're with a part brolren away to moreclearly reveal the'loclr ing element. The receptacle wherewitl I have .shown my improvements associated is practically identical with that disclosed in Jacobsen Patent No. 1,412,526,issuQdApril l l, 1922, except for the'locking meansincorporated in the closure. Inasmuch as thefrcceptacle, generally, constitutesno part ot' .my present invention it will sufiice to hriefivdescribe it as comprising a central partition 1 and side walls 2 which are spaced from the op.- posite sides of the partition to provide coin receiving spaces bet-ween the wallsand partition. According to the present design, these spaces are divided into magazines hav ing a width slightly on ater than the diameter of the coin, and the wallsendpartie tion are provided with slots that are .less in width than thenaga' ines so that the coins in th receptacle may bereadily seen. The magazines are open. at both ends, and at the receiving end are provided with retaining means (not shown) ,whichj, will'ad- In1t 0t the-insertion of coins but prevent their withdrawal. Pesigned to lit over the discharge end-of the receptacle-is a closure 5 (shown in perspective in Fig. 8)-whic h comprises side walls 6, a bottomwall T, and end walls 8. A locking element. 10 occupics the closure and the-same is of resilient metal and in the form of a channel, the web 11 whereof is secured, as by" rivets 12, to the bottom Wall 7 of the closure. The side flanges 13 oft-he locking element are C0111- paratively shallow but extending therefrom to within a shortdistance ot theplane of the open side of t'helclo sure are a plurality of locking lingers 1st which have lips 15 turned outwardly trom their upper end. the fingersalong one side ot the locking elementbeing directly opposedto those on the other side. In transverse alignment with the fingers 14, are apertures 16 in the side walls 6.

Spaced upwardly from the lower edges of the side walls 2 of the receptacle a distance substantially equal to that between the lips 15 and the bottom wall 7 ot the closure are a plurality of slots 20 for the reception of the lips 15 of the locking device when the closure is applied to the receptacle. The aforesaid edges of the side walls 2 are provided with notches 21 which lead into the slots 20; and the central partition 1 is shown as having notches 22 in transverse alignment with the notches 21 of the op posed side walls.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the closure 5 is applied to the receptacle the lips 15 of the fingers 1% will enter the slots 20 of the side walls 2 and bear against the inner surtaces ot the walls 6 of the closure thereby to securely lock the closure to the receptacle, it being explained that the lips 15 are of a length substantially equal to that of the slots 20 According to the present preferred em bodiment of my invention as it pertains to the unlocking device, I employ as the major part of that device a standard type of paper clamp which comprises opposed plates 25 that terminate in handles 26 engaged through slots 27 in a substantially cylindrical spring 29 that is split along one side and has its edge po-rfiions 3O bearing upon the plates 25 adjacent their tree edges. The spring 29, therefore, tends to force the tree edges of the plates toward each other, and a reverse action may be accomplished by forcing the handles 26 toward each other in opposition to the spring 29 all of which will be readily understood because of the general familiarity with clamps of this character.

Secured, as by rivets 35, to the free edges of the plates 25, are jaws which have end flanges 87, teeth 38 disposed along their front edges, and interengaging stops 9 suitably arranged along their rear edges. The spacing of the teeth 38 is identical with the spacing of the aperture 16 of the closure 5.

When it is desired to remove the closure, the jaws of the clamp are opened. by pressing the handles 26 toward each other and the jaws are presented on opposite sides of the closure with their teeth 38 in register with the apertures 16, a condition which is readily brought about by the. fact that the jaws are accurately positioned with respect to the closure by their end flanges 37 engaging the ends of the closure and the stops 39 contacting with the bottom wall of the closure. Now, upon releasing the handles 26, the spring 29 forces the j aws 36 together so that the teeth 38 are projected through the apertures 16 and into engagement with the fingers 14, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 and the superi r tension of the spring 29 overcomes that of the fingers 14 causing the fingers to yield and retract their lips 15 from the slots 20. Nith the parts in this condition, the closure may be readily withdrawn from the receptacle, the notches 21 in the side walls 2 accommodating the teeth 38 during such withdrawal. The central partition 1 is notched at 22, as previously explained, so as to avoid any possible interference of said partition with the complete retraction of the fingers 1a.

The cover, with the unlocking device applied thereto, may be laid aside until the receptacle has been emptied of its contents, after which the closure may be replaced conveniently by means of the unlocking device, which serves to hold the fingers 14 inward while the cover is being applied. Upon the removal of the unlocking device, the fingers will spring back to normal position with their lips in the slots 20.

\Vhile l have described the present our-- bodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that 1 do not limit myself to the structural features thereof further than is required by the terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with a receptacle having the edge oi one oi its walls provided with a notch and holding means inwardly of said notch, a cover for the receptacle having a part overlying the outer side of said wall, said part having an aperture registering with the notch, a locking element carried by the cover and disposed, when the cover is in place, on the inner side of said wall, said element having a part interlocking with the holding means of the wall, and means adapted to be projected through the atoresaid aperture and through the notch for disengaging the locking element from the l'iolding means, to the notch accommodating said means during the withdrawal of the cover "from the device.

2. In combination with receptacle having the edge of one of its walls provided with a notch which is enlarged at its inner end. a cover for the receptacle having a part overlying the outer side of said wall, said part having an aperture registering with the notch, a locking element carried by the cover and disposed, when the cover is in place, on the inner side of said wall, said element having a part that enters the enlarged inner end of the notch, and means adapted to be projected through the aforesaid aperture and through the notch for disengaging the locking element from the notch, the notch accommodating said means during the withdrawal of the cover from the receptacle.

lit)

3. In combination with a receptacle having an open end, a closure arranged to telescope over said open end, the edge portions of the opposed walls of the. receptacle being provided with holding means, locking elements carried by the closure, said locking elements being disposed on the inner sides of said walls when the closure is applied to the receptacle and having parts that interlock with the holdingmeans of the opposed walls, thereby to lock the closure to the receptacle, the closure having apertures in substantially transverse alignment with the locking elements, and a device designed to embrace the closure and having parts arranged to enter the apertures of the closure and engage the locking elements thereby to release them from the aforesaid holding means.

i In con'ibination with a receptacle having an open end, a closure arranged to telescope over said open end, the edge portions of the opposed walls of the receptacle being provided with nctches that are enlarged at their inner ends, locking elements carried by the closure, said locking elements being disposed on the inner sides of said walls when the closure is applied to the receptacle and having parts that enter the enlarged in uer ends of the notches thereby to lock the closure to the receptacle, the closure having apertures registering with the aforesaid notches, and a'device designed to embrace the closure and having parts arranged to enter the apertures of the closure and engage the locking elements thereby to retract them from the notches.

5. In combination with an open-ended receptacle having notches in the edges of its opposed alls and slots adjacent the inner ends of the notches, a closure designed to telescope over the open end of the receptacle and having apertures in register with the notches, resilient locking elements carried by the closure, and having parts which engage within the slots, and an unlocking device arranged to embrace the closure and having parts which are projected through the apertures of the closure into contact with the opposed resilient locking elements thereby toretract them from the slots.

6. In combination with an open-ended receptacle having notches in the edges of its opposed walls. the notches of the opposed 'alls being substantially in transverse alignmentand enlarged at their inner ends, a closure designed to telescope over the open end of the receptacle and having apertures in register with the notches, a resilient locking element carried by the closure and having opposed parts which engage within the enlarged inner ends of the notches, and an unlocking device arranged to embrace the closure and having parts which are projected through the apertures of the closure into contact with the opposed parts of. the resilient locking element thereby to retract aid parts from the. notches;

7. in combination with an openrended receptacle having notches in the.,,edges of its opposed walls, said notches being en: larged at their inner ends, a closure .designed to telescope over the open endofthe receptacle and having apertures registering with the notches, a resilient-locking element that is substantially U-shaped in cross section and having its central, portion .sccured to the closure while its ,opposed branches repose upon the inner sides of the receptacle walls when the closure is applied to the receptacle, the free ends of said opposed parts being provided with outwardly extended lips which enter the enlarged inner ends of the notches, and an unlocking device designed to embrace the closure and 1 having parts which enter the apertures. of the closure and engage the opposed parts of the locking element thereby ,to retract their lips from the enlarged innerends of the notches.

E5. in combination with an open-ended receptacle having a plurality of notches, in the edges of its opposed walls, the notches of one wall being in substantially trans.- vcrse alignment with those of the other, the notches being enlarged at their inner ends, a closure for application to the open end of the receptacle and comprising a bottom wall, side walls and end walls, the side walls having apertures which register with the aforesaid notches, a locking element consisting of a substantially channel shaped spring disposed within the cl sure and having its web secured to the bottom wall there- 'of, opposed tongues extending from the side flanges of the locking element in transverse alignment with the aforesaid notches, said tongues terminating at their free ends in outwardly extended lips which engage within the enlarged inner ends of the notches, and an unlocking device having opposed jaws provided with teeth, the device being designed to cooperate with the closure in such manner as to cause said teeth to register with and enter the apertures in the opposed side walls of the closure and engage the opposed tongues of the locking element thereby to retract their lips from the enlarged inner ends of the notches.

9. In combination, a receptacle, a closure therefor, locking means for securing the closure to the receptacle, and a clamping device for application to the closure, said device, when applied to the closure, cooperating with the locking means to release it thereby to permit the withdrawal of the closure.

10. In combination with a receptacle equipped with a closure and provided on its interior with locking means for securing the closure to the receptacle, the closure having on its opposite sides apertures through which the locking means may be manipulated for releasing the closure, and an unlocking device having opposed parts which are adapted to be projected through the apertures of the closure for manipulating the unlocking means and releasing the closure from the receptacle.

11. In combination with a receptacle equipped with a closure and provided on its interior with locking means for securing the closure to the receptacle, the closure having on its opposite sides apertures through which the locking means may be manipulated for releasing the closure, and an un locking device having opposed jaws provided with teeth arranged to enter the apertures of the closure and manipulate the locking means thereby to release the closure from the receptacle, the unlocking device cooperating with the closure in such manner as to properly position its teeth with respect to the apertures of the closure.

12. In combination with a receptacle equipped with a closure and provided on its interior with locking means for securing the closure to the receptacle, the closure having on its opposite sides apertures through which the locking means may be manipulated for releasing the closure, and an unlocking device in the nature of a spring clamp having opposed jaws that are provided with teeth arranged to enter the apertures of the closure and manipulate the unlocking means thereby to release the closure from the receptacle when the unlocking device is clamped to the closure.

In combination with a receptacle equipped with a closure and provided on its interior wi h locking means for securing the closure to the receptacle, the closure having on its opposite sides apertures through which the locking means may be manipulated for releasing the closure, an unlocking device in the nature of a spring clamp incorporating opposed clamping plates and a substantially cylindrical spring embracing said plates and maintaining them in operative relation and tending to force their tree edges toward each other, and jaws applied to the opposed free edges of the clamping plates, the opposed jaws having teeth that are adapted to be project-ed by the action of the spring clamp'through the apertures in the closure and manipulate the locking means thereby to release the closure from the receptacle, the jaws being designed to cooperate with the closure in such manner as to properly position the teeth with respect to the apertures of the closure.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

J. EDWVARD MITCHELL. 

